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The Holocaust - An Introduction (I): Nazi Germany: Ideology, The Jews and the World
  • Level Foundation
  • Duration 7 hours
  • Course by Tel Aviv University
  • Offered by

About

The Holocaust was an inconceivable historical event, which forever robbed Western culture of its innocence. As civilized human beings, we fail to understand how events of such horror could have taken place, and how an idea so inhumanly warped could have spread like wildfire through an entire continent, instigating the systematic annihilation of millions of Jews. This free online course was produced jointly by Tel Aviv University and Yad Vashem – the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. The course tracks the history of the Holocaust and has two parts. "The Holocaust - An Introduction (I): Nazi Germany: Ideology, The Jews and the World" is the first of the two courses and covers the following themes in its three weeks: Week 1: From Hatred to Core Ideology We will try to delve into Nazi ideology and the special place of Jews and Judaism in it. We will also discuss how the National Socialist Party converted the German Democracy of the Weimar Republic into a totalitarian regime within a short period of time, and its meaning for Jews and non-Jewish citizens. Week 2: The World and the Jews in World War II We will try to examine the broader contexts of the Holocaust and to place it, as part of World War 2. In this meeting we will also refer to the vital Jewish world to be found under various Nazi occupations and influences. Week 3: The Isolation Abyss - the Perspective of the Individual We will try to reveal different aspects of Jewish life in the face of the badge of shame, ghettos and segregation, as well as the formation of individual, societies’ and leader’s reactions in the face of a consistent policy of dispossession and discrimination. Once you’ve completed this course, you can continue your learning with The Holocaust - An Introduction (II): The Final Solution (https://www.coursera.org/learn/holocaust-introduction-2/home/welcome) This online course is offered in an innovative, multi-level format, comprising: * Comprehensive lectures by leading researchers from Tel Aviv University and Yad Vashem. * A wealth of voices and viewpoints presented by guest lecturers. * Numerous documents, photos, testimonies and works of art from the time of the Holocaust. * Novel learning experience: Crowd sourcing – involving the learners themselves in the act of collecting and shaping information, via unique, exciting online assignments. REQUIREMENTS: This course is designed for anyone with an interest in the Holocaust, including students, teachers, academics and policy-makers.

Modules

Course Introduction trailer

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  • Course trailer

Introduction:

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  • Introduction: why the Holocaust, why history, why this course?

Why the Jews?

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  • Why the Jews? Traditional anti-Semitism as a central background

Nazi Antisemitism

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    • 1 Readings
    • 1 Discussion
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1 Discussions

  • Hitler's Ideology

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  • The uniqueness of Nazi anti-Semitism and its place in the NS ideology

1 Readings

  • Saul Friedlander, Nazi Germany and the Jews

Gleichschaltung

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  • 1933: Gleichschaltung

Life in Nazi Germany

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1 Discussions

  • Political Life under Nazi Rule

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  • 1933-1939: Life in Nazi Germany

Jewish Life in Nazi Germany

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1 Discussions

  • Why Didn't the Jews Leave Germany?

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  • 1933-1939: Jewish life in Nazi Germany

1 Readings

  • Wolfgang Benz, “Exclusion as a Stage in Persecution: The Jewish Situation in Germany, 1933-1941”

1938 - A Major Turning Point

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  • 1938 - A Major Turning Point

Nazi military occupations and varying occupation policies

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1 Discussions

  • Nazi Policies

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  • Nazi military occupations and varying occupation policies

Visual Documentation

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  • From the Historian's Desk - Visual Documentation

1 Readings

  • Judith Levin and Daniel Uziel, “Ordinary Men Extraordinary Photos – Photographs”

Focus on Poland

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  • Focus on Poland

Focus on France and Paris

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  • Focus on France and Paris

1 Readings

  • Denis Peschanski, “The Statues on Jews – October 3, 1940 and June 2, 1942”

A World at War and world Jewry

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  • A World at War and world Jewry

Europe and its Jews between the two world wars

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    • 1 Discussion
    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Check you’ve understood what you’ve learned so far

1 Discussions

  • Forum to Upload Photos

1 Videos

  • Europe and its Jews between the two world wars

The Jewish perspective and the Badge of Shame

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1 Videos

  • The Jewish Perspective and the Badge of Shame

Ghettoization

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    • 2 Readings
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1 Discussions

  • Diversity of the Nazi Ghettos

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  • Ghettoization

2 Readings

  • Instructions by Heydrich on Policy and Operations concerning Jews in the Occupied Territories, September 21, 1939
  • Miron, Guy and Shlomit Shulhani, "General Introduction", The Yad Vashem Encyclopedia of the Ghettos During the Holocaust

The Warsaw Ghetto

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  • The Warsaw Ghetto

Isolation with no walls

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  • Isolation with no Walls

Leadership

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  • Leadership

Future Expectations and Rumors

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  • Future Expectations and Rumors

Partial conclusions

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    • 2 Readings
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    • 1 Assignment
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1 Assignment

  • Check your understanding

1 Discussions

  • End of course discussion

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  • The Holocaust - an introduction - Partial conclusions

2 Readings

  • Michael Wildt, "Generation of the Unbound: The Leadership Corps of the Reich Security Main Office"
  • What's next?

Auto Summary

"The Holocaust - An Introduction (I): Nazi Germany: Ideology, The Jews and the World" is a profound and insightful online course offered within the Arts & Humanities domain. Jointly produced by Tel Aviv University and Yad Vashem – the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, this course provides a comprehensive exploration of one of history's darkest periods, focusing on the ideology driving Nazi Germany, the persecution of Jews, and the global context of these events. Guided by leading researchers and enriched with guest lectures, the course spans three weeks, each dedicated to a critical theme: - **Week 1:** Delve into Nazi ideology, examining the transformation of the Weimar Republic into a totalitarian regime and its implications for Jews and other citizens. - **Week 2:** Place the Holocaust within the broader context of World War II, exploring the conditions of Jewish communities under Nazi occupation. - **Week 3:** Investigate the personal and societal impacts of the Holocaust, highlighting life under segregation, ghettos, and systemic discrimination. This innovative course features a dynamic learning format, including comprehensive lectures, diverse perspectives, and a rich collection of historical documents, photos, testimonies, and artworks. Learners are also engaged in crowd-sourcing activities, making the educational experience interactive and participatory. Ideal for students, teachers, academics, and policy-makers with an interest in the Holocaust, the course requires no prior knowledge and is offered at a foundational level. With a duration of 420 minutes, it is accessible through Coursera with both Starter and Professional subscription options. Upon completion, learners can further their studies with the second part of the series, "The Holocaust - An Introduction (II): The Final Solution." Embark on this educational journey to deepen your understanding of the Holocaust and its enduring impact on history and humanity.

Professor Havi Dreifuss, PhD
Instructors

Professor Havi Dreifuss, PhD

Dr Na'ama Bela Shik, PhD
Instructors

Dr Na'ama Bela Shik, PhD